"Oh, how unusual," Margaret smiled. "You know, your great aunt Tilly travelled with the circus. She did a musical act. Wrote a book about it," she added.

"Was she the one with the beard?" Val quipped, prompting his mother to lean over and smack his knee.

"Wicked boy," she tutted. "And what have you been doing? Still running a museum, or have you gotten bored with that?" she asked, before looking over at Jag. "A restless soul, my Valentine. Drives his father mad. ...Have you said hello to him tonight?"

Val looked away, and shrugged. "Didn't see him."

Margaret didn't look as though she believed that, but didn't push too hard. "You should at least introduce him to your date for the evening, don't you think?"